The New York Immigration Coalition

June 8th, 2024 ChatGPT, Adobe Photoshop & Firefly I made this piece because I can identify with the migrant experience, having lived here undocumented for the first 3.5 years after my arrival. This isn’t about my experience though, but the hundreds of thousands of individuals who have come to the US seeking asylum and have been met with disgust, neglect, and a general disregard for their successful integration into our society. Since spring 2022, more than 118,000 individuals have arrived in New York City , fleeing economic collapse, violence, and political instability in their home countries, particularly across Latin America and the Caribbean. While this should have been somewhat precedented considering the US involvement in these countries’ politics , this influx has overwhelmed New York City’s shelter system, leaving tens of thousands in precarious conditions  with many forced to sleep on the streets  or in overcrowded shelters like the Roosevelt Hotel , which has become a temporary refuge  for families and individuals alike. In creating this piece, I sought to capture the duality of what it means to be a migrant; the despair of being uprooted from one’s home juxtaposed with the unwavering hope and toil for a better future. This scene depicting a mother working to support her family by selling candy with her baby strapped to her back  is one I see quite often. I’ve frequently seen mothers with their young toddlers with them, or older children selling candy in pairs . While I wish they could make different choices, I do not judge them because I understand that they are doing what they (or usually in any child’s case, their parents) feel they have to do in order to survive. Despite the challenges, they continue to work for the dream of a stable life, away from the violence and poverty they were forced to flee. Even if the stable life they work so hard for here is often not as stable as we societally provide for them . These situations are not just New York City issues; they reflect a larger, global challenge  of how we treat those who seek refuge and the responsibilities that cities and nations have towards the most vulnerable, no matter their background. My hope is that this piece will urge us all to look beyond the numbers and see the people whose lives hang in the balance. They are more than statistics; they are families, individuals, and children who deserve dignity, safety, and the real opportunity to rebuild their lives and live healthily and happily. As a matter of fact, we all inherently do. One hundred percent of the proceeds from minting this NFT will go to the New York Immigration Coalition , towards helping migrant families obtain better integration resources  and education on childcare programs they may be eligible for, such as Promise NYC  (funded through New York State). Every subsequent sale will be split 50-50 between the seller and the foundation. You must be 18 years or older (or whichever is the legal age in your area) and possess a valid credit card tied to your name, or if purchasing with crypto you automatically attest that you are of legal majority age within your jurisdiction to be making such a transaction.